World War II MemoriesFrom Floyd Matthews

Submitted by Floyd MatthewsDuring the ‘Heat’ of World War II

I just couldn’t part with the following daily news letters published by the Radio Shack. They contain so much war time humor and memories and were written by a radioman who could laugh at the actions of crew members in the thick of battle. They are my only written memories of the events that occurred during the build and invasion of World War II. I was executive officer and on the bridge about 18 hours a day.TANGLEFOOTEvery ship has its bridge, but every ship hasn’t a Mark D. Wilcox, the ‘D’ is for Dey (not connected with Eleanor's My Day). Now for you guys that are not familiar with Mark, he’s the guy that’s up on the bridge, usually seen dashing from one signal light to the other, knocking everyone down in the process. We won’t go into his personal characteristics other than to say that he usually looks like a tall palm tree that has just weathered a hurricane (now you should know who I mean). Well, to get on with my tale, its early morning and we a peacefully steaming along, there’s very little action on the bridge save for an occasional yell of “range”. Two thousand fife hunnert replies Rodriguez. Then some on the gun deck will say “signals from the tanker”. It then as if all hell breaks loose. Mark the place, leaping from one side to the other all the time shouting “where, where” and I hear Mr. Burks mumble something like “It’s a good thing we have Cramer on board”. All’s quiet for a while and then I hear Cramer giving Mark all kinds of hell for ringing up the wrong color pennants, not securing the jack that blew away in the night and for running the colors up upside down. After Cramer is all ‘exasperated’ out, Mark blinks around the bridge saying Cramer doesn’t know his ass from shinola shoe polish (Cramer does, but Mark is mad that’s why he says those things. Another time Mark was up on the gun deck when signals came in, but not having a pencil handy, he tears down the ladder to get one. About this time Captain Terrio decides he needs some fresh air. He starts out of the hatch. Naturally Mr. Terrio didn’t see Wilcox until he was knocked down and trampled on. All the time now Mr. Terrio is giving out with horrible curse words while he’s picking himself up and telling Wilcox just what he thinks of him. After it’s all over (Cramer got the message in the meantime) Mark says like this, “How do you like that, you try to do your job and they give you hell for no reason at all”.YUP, THAT’S LIFE

SUBMARINE DUTY

Floyd
Matthews pioneered in the development ad operation of submarine rescue
and salvage methods while assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Submarine
Experimental Unit on board the submarine USS S-4, an experimental
submarine. The unit, all volunteers, consisted of eight rating and
three officers. After the escape devices were adopted we served as
instructors in submarine escape training, using the devices we designed
and developed. This was in the year 1928. Floyd
Matthews was a member of the submarine rescue and salvage group on
board the Submarine Rescue Vessel USS Falcon during the rescue of
thirty-seven personnel from the sunken submarine USS Squalus that
plunged to the bottom of the sea in 240 feet of water off the New
England coast. Twenty-seven men perished in the flooded engine room of
the submarine. This was in the year 1939. Floyd
Matthews served as Executive Officer and Navigator of the USS Diver, a
rescue, and salvage vessel during the build-up and invasion of Europe.
The Diver took part in the landings on Omaha and Utah Beaches and later
helped clear Cherbourg Harbor so ships could enter and off-load war
material. This was during the years 1943, 1944, and 1945. Floyd
Matthews served as Commanding Officer of the USS ATR-59, an auxiliary
rescue and towing ship during 1944 and 1945. Floyd
Matthews served as Commanding Officer of the USS Chickasaw, one of the
Navy’s large Fleet Tugs. During his command of the Chickasaw, it was
chosen to perform an experimental towing exercise in which a battleship,
heavy cruiser, cargo ship and a destroyer were towed, in tandem, and
was considered a tow record for a single tug at that time. The year was
1946 Floyd
Matthews served as Commanding Officer of the USS Chickasaw during the
time she was assigned to Joint Task Force One, the two atom bomb tests
in Bikini Atoll. The Chickasaw was support ship for the Salvage Unit
and was chosen as security vessel for the entire task force. She placed
the largest target ships in their moorings, as well as placing the ship
from which the underwater shot was lowered 90 feet and detonated. The
year was 1946. Floyd
Matthews commanded Task Unit 1.16, a towing exercise of three units
from Pearl Harbor to Portland, Oregon. He arrived with his tows
Christmas, 1945. Floyd
Matthews received emergency orders to rendezvous with a tug at sea with
a heavy tow, having steering trouble and low on fuel oil. They located
the tug, took her in tow and transferred 35,000 gallons of fuel just in
time to avoid a serious accident. It was an unusual and dangerous
operation, probably the first of its kind. The year was 1947. Top of the Page

I love this particular picture of Uncle Floyd in his white uniform, just above. Not only is it a great picture of my favorite Uncle, but my oldest son looks just like him. When I first saw that picture, I asked "where did you get this picture of Dutch? I want one."